PEORIA — Kyle Rank has had a historic season in goal for the Peoria Rivermen.

On Sunday, he’ll try to keep his team’s playoff run from becoming a thing of the past when Peoria and Columbus clash in the final game of their three-game SPHL playoff series.

The Rivermen are right where they want to be, on home ice, where they had the league’s second-best record this season.

And Rank is right where he wants to be, too.

“When I was a kid, playing soccer, I was a goalkeeper,” Rank said. “When I played baseball I was a catcher. When I started hockey I was a goaltender from the get-go.

“I just always really liked having high-speed projectiles launched right at me.”

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound third-year pro from Islip, N.Y., grew up a Rangers fan and liked the way Mike Richter played in goal.

But to say Rank is a late-bloomer is an understatement. He didn’t start hockey until he was 12.

He’s certainly made up for lost time this season. Rank put together quite a season, with a 1.89 goals-against and .938 saves rate in 2013-14.

His eight shutouts smashed the SPHL’s single-season record. Seven of those shutouts were with Peoria as he set a single-season record for the 32-year franchise. The all-SPHL first-team selection will likely be named Goaltender of the Year next week.

“I couldn’t ever explain this season,” Rank said. “We play such good core defense, it sure helps. When I broke that league record, it was surreal. I couldn’t fathom having a season like this, no goaltender could.

“Last year, I learned what it took to be a pro. It was a roller coaster. I experienced the highest of highs — getting invited to AHL Hartford camp and having a chance to compete there. Then the lowest of lows — released by Knoxville in the SPHL, and sitting out with no job.

“I was picked up by Fayetteville, where I was lucky enough to sit behind a guy (36-year-old Marco Emond) who had something like 15 years in the game, an old pro who taught me a lot.”

But Fayetteville discarded Rank, too, sending him to the Rivermen for future considerations in a December deal that changed Peoria’s season.

“They made a business decision and moved me,” Rank said. “I understand. No grudges. I’m extremely happy to be on the Peoria team. It’s been an incredible year. A hot goaltender can carry a team in the playoffs. But you can’t have a hot goaltender if you don’t have a strong D corp. One makes the other possible.”

Page 2 of 2 - Rank notched his first pro shutout when Peoria beat Columbus 2-0 in Game 1 of their playoff series Wednesday. On Friday, the Cottonmouths drove him out of the net in a 6-1 hammering of the Rivermen.

Rank and his teammates will try to get back to form on Sunday.

“Am I quirky? Sure,” Rank said. “I eat the same thing every day. I wear the same underwear every game. I see things in black and white, very defined routines. No room for variations. I’ll be prepared. That’s just who I am.”

TALK NET: Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel, after Peoria’s 6-1 loss to Columbus in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series on Friday:

“I told our team it’s one game, 10-1 or 6-1, it counts the same. We worked all year for home-ice advantage and we have it. We’re gonna use it Sunday.”

*** Trudel, after Columbus’ Dan Bremner checked Peoria scoring leader and all-SPHL center Garrett Vermeersch into the boards in Game 2, knocking him out of the game around 8:15 of the first period:

“Young players don’t know how to protect themselves. Vermeersch waited with the puck about 3 seconds too long, moved to his backhand and made himself vulnerable. They got to him and hammered him.”

RIVER READINGS: Rivermen star Garrett Vermeersch (upper body injury) seems unlikely to play in Game 3 Sunday. ... Columbus’ Alex Gallant, ejected from Game 2 for checking Rivermen center Nick Prockow into the boards from behind, is expected to be suspended by the SPHL for Game 3. ... Rivermen goaltender Kyle Rank’s 2-0 shutout over Columbus in Game 1 on Wednesday was the first playoff shutout by the Rivermen in a dozen years. Rookie Phil Osaer blanked Johnstown, 1-0, in Game 2 of an ECHL first-round playoff series at Carver Arena on April 3, 2002. ... The 6-1 Rivermen loss in Game 2 at Columbus on Friday marked the most goals allowed and worst margin of defeat for the Peoria franchise in a playoff game since a 6-1 loss to Houston in Game 3 of the AHL’s first round in 2005-06, and a 6-1 loss to Johnstown in Game 3 of a first-round ECHL series in 2001-02.

Dave Eminian covers the Rivermen and Chiefs for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.